patrick



Au 17, 1948. F. OD. PATRICK 2,447,273

SWiTCH FOR MODEL RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1944 UUEI U u Inventor Q ara'a? abkllfairzi'kv g] Y i 7 and F. on. PATRICK 2,447,273

2 Sheets-Sh eet 2 SWITCH FOR MODEL RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION Aug. 17,1948.

Filed July 19, 1944 Elma/n NY Patented Aug. 17, 1948 SWITCH FOR MODEL RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION Frederick ODell Patrick, Jacksonville, Fla. 1944, Serial No. 545,609

Application July 19,

1 Claim. (Cl. 246-419) This invention relates to so-called miniature and model railroad structures and has for more particular reference to several phases or char-acteristics thereof all of which, it is submitted, constitute distinctions and refinements in structural equipment.

-More specifically, the improvement most promi nent in the overall assemblage or construction has to do with an underpass feeder such as is embodied in the track structure to provide a method of feeding current to the motor in the engine or for lighting coaches, said feeder having to do with a roller equipped current pick-up and distributor shoe wherein the rollers are confined in an especially constructed feeder rail, this in such a manner as to prevent derailment, to avoid jumping on curves, to minimize objectionable open circuits and to otherwise provide an aptly fitted and expedient adaptation for model type railway equipment. 4

Stated more explicitly, the underpass feeder arrangement is characterized by a hollow slotted rail, this embedded in a plastic or equivalent base or foundation, the rollers of the power (take-oh" unit being confined and riding in said rail and having electrical pick-up contact with flanges on opposite sidesof the slot, whereby to not only provide an adequate and satisfactory means of transmitting current from the feeder rail to the engine and cars, but, as before indicated, to virtually lock the engine and cars on the regular track rails to overcome derailment, track jumping and the like.

Novelty is also predicated upon advantages derived from the particular track construction utilized, the main rails embedded in the ties or other foundation, the feeder rail also embedded and located midway between the main rails, and being disposed on a plane so that its top assumes a level to permit the flanges of the engine and car wheels to clear the same when swinging from main to side lines, in an obvious manner.

Then too, additional novelty has to do with the simple and practicable switch means adopted and utilized, this mechanism comprising pivoted switch points cooperable with the main rails, and an especially constructed director and adapter unit or device coacting with the feeder rail to properly direct and shunt the power take-off roller unit or shoe, these several parts coacting with electric :or otherwise controlled shifter means for controlling the direction of movement of the train.

Other features and more readily apparent advantages will become from the following description and the accompanying illustrative'drawe ings. In ployed to designate like parts same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a section of a track constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, its purpose being, primarily,to illustrate the construction and arrangement of the so-called switch mechanism. r

Figure 2'is an enlarged cross section taken approximately on the plane of the line '22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation emphasizing the construction of the underpass feeder arrangement, the rail and shoe combined.

Figure 4 is a director device the drawings, wherein like numerals are emthroughout I the perspective view of the auxiliary for coaction with the feeder rail andshoe, this apart of the switch mechanism.

As before statedpth'e most important phase of the invention is the ways-and-means employed to supply and distribute the electric cur-rent to the engine and .cars of a train. The essence of this phase of the invention is brought out in Figure 3 in which it willbe seen that the feeder or third rail 8 is embedded in a plastic or equivalent foundation 9. This foundation isseen in Figure l at which point the switch construction is depicted. It is evident, however, that the cross-ties are also of plastic and the mode of embedding the rail 8 is the same. This rail is of substantially rectangular hollow construction and the side walls adjacent the bottom are provided with longitud-inal beads H) (see Figure 2) which facilitate anchorage in the base. .A slot is formed centrally in the top. This top is characterized by parallel flanges having return bends which are bent around reinforcing rods or wires and then bent laterally outward to form suitable tracking flanges H. The current or power take-off unit, which may be generally referred to as a shoe, is denoted by the numeral 12. This comprises an arm which is pivotally or otherwise connected, as at 13, to a suitable bracket and fixture assembly -'l4 carried by the engine or car as the case may be, the latter indicated at A5. A coiled spring l 6 i attached at one end to the car and at its opposite end to the intermediate portion of the arm H. The latter has its lower end extending down through the slot in the feeder rail =8 where it is provided with lateral trunnions or journals l8 carrying the 0pposed anti-friction contact rollers 19. The spring means maintains the rollers in constant contact with the confining flanges -l I. An arrangement control means.

of this type serves not only to effectively supply and distribute current, but it alsohas the additional mechanical advantage of literally tying the cars to the track. That is to say, the general T-shaped formation of the shoe locks the .cars in place which, as before mentioned avoids track jumping and derailing and at all time insures eflective operation and results.

Reference being had now to Figure 1, it will be seen that the main track rails 29 and 30 are at equi-distant parallel positions on opposite sides of the third or feeder rail 8 and associated track sections are provided to switch the train from the main track to the side track 3|. In accomplishing this I provide switch points 32 and 33, these of appropriate shape and enable the operator to design and pivotally mounted in place as at 34.

They are operatively connected as at the point 35 (see Figure 2) by an actuator 31 leading to a controller. It is possible to use either an electrical or mechanical I have shown an electric control comprising an electro-magnet 38 and a reciprocatory armature 39 coacting therewith. The same shifter link 36 serves to operate the special switching device 40, that is, the device for switching the shoe l2. This device comprises a horizontal suitably shaped director finger M which overlies the slotted part of the feeder rail, the same having connection as at 42 with an underlying actuator arm 43, this provided with a pin 44 fitting into an insulated aperture 45 in the switch or shifter link 36. Any appropriate means, as at 46, is provided for pivotally mounting this unit in place at the crotch of the main and auxiliary feeder rails as seen in Figure 1.

The track sections are joined or separated by way of the male and female coupling elements seen to the left in Figure 1, the elements being denoted by the numerals 41 and 48. Incidentally, one of the cross ties, a plastic element, is indicated 'at 49.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

with a shifter link 36 controlled Minor changes in the shape, size and arrange-' ment of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a. structural assemblage of the class described, in combination, main and auxiliary tracks including parallel main side rails and an intervening hollow centrally slotted underpass feeder rail, switch points pivotally mounted on terminal end portions of the main rails, a recip rocatory operating link underlying said switch points and operatively connected to the free swingable end portions thereof, an electromagnet, an operating connection between the electromagnet and an adjacent end of said reciprocatory operating link, the latter link being provided with an aperture, a one-piece substantially U-shaped switch member, the upper limb thereof being fashioned into a director finger and said director finger overlying the slotted top portion of the feeder rail, the lower limb of said U-shaped member unclerlyiir the upper limb and being provided on its free end with a lateral pin constituting a crank, the latter being engaged with the aperture in said reciprocatory operating link.

FREDERICK ODELL PATRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNZTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 310,962 Smith Jan. 20, 1885 323,675 Henderson Aug. 4, 1885 328,420 McLaughlin, Oct. 13, 1885 442,475 Blackwell Dec. 9, 1890 667,508 Edwards Feb. 5, 1901 692,817 Bergin Feb. 11, 1902 795,232 Pfiieger July 18, 1905 816,308 Farmer Mar. 27, 1906 1,507,723 Avery Sept. 9, 1924 1,606,691 Boyer Nov. 9, 1926 1,613,866 Avery Jan. 11, 1927 2,086,611 Frank July 13, 1937 2,112,072 Cullen Mar. 22, 1938 

